Deanna Doss Shrodes

I’m just getting back tonight from the “You Go Girl!” conference, hosted by my good friend, Pastor Andrea Fruscella, co-pastor of First Coast Christian Center in Jacksonville, FL. I decided to take my life coaching ladies to the event. Only six of them could go out of the group but it was so worth it for all of us. I am coming back with my head and my heart so full. Janet Pascal did the music. Andrea’s message (aptly titled, “You Go Girl”) was awesome. I loved it. And I heard the ministry of Dr. Debbie Dunlap for the first time and I was more than blessed, I was so challenged. I have so many things to work on, I don’t know where to start. She said some things that were absolutely revolutionary to me. Her messages were about depression and anger but they were more biblically based than anything I have ever heard. Rare is it that I go to anything whe re I haven’t heard of some re-mixed version of the message, but in this case I actually got something new. Basically her outline that she g...

The other day I was getting my nails done and was forced to watch a movie. Sometimes I'm glad to be forced, other times not. I could change nail places but I'd never want to - I like it there! Movies play there all day all the time and sometimes I love 'em, sometimes not. The movie of the week this time was Premonition with Sandra Bullock. I found myself frustrated by the plot and wondering what in the world the whole point of the whole thing was and never quite got my answer. But it did get me thinking about something on a serious note. People talk about women's intuition. On top of whatever that is, whether you believe it does or doesn't exist, I believe I flow in something that definitely does exist and that is the word of knowledge, and also just the general feeling of knowing something in my spirit, as every believer has the ability to do, and I believe some are just more aware of it than others. Being body soul and spirit I believe that often times our spirit...

What a day. I worked from home because our phones were out again yesterday as well as our internet and I just can't survive work-wise that way. I got a lot of computer work done as well as made (literally!) about 40 phone calls for work. I am so tired of being on the phone and so glad I'm done. It's nearing 7 pm and we're going to have dinner with the Watson family - all of us - tonight. She's making steaks on the grill and I made my mashed potato casserole and corn casserole. Yum! We are excited to do this with Reggie home, and all of us will be there. I also have a special gift for her...I know she's not going to get on here before I give this to her, so I'll blog about it...since in 1/2 hour I'm giving her this... I found a photo of her and Barbara (her best friend who passed away two weeks ago) at our Northside women's ret reat a few years ago. (Here it is at left. For those who don't know her, Barbara is at left, Rosemay to the right.) I had...

When I'm greeting visitors in our hospitality room after service, I often hear comments like this: "We're here this morning because we are looking for a new church. Our church just isn't moving with the spirit anymore. The pastor feels like he needs to preach all the time. Why can't we just worship?" [um...last time I checked the Word was supposed to be central in a service, at least a Christian one...how you can "move with the spirit" without the Word of God, I don't know. Also last time I checked, preaching as well as every other aspect of the service is worship.] "We're here this morning because our pastors are so unapproachable. We're so glad we could come in here to the visitor room and walk right up and talk to you this morning!" [Well, what are you going to feel like next week when I don't talk to you because I'm in here with next week's visitors, and not you?] "We're here because our last church br...

I told readers of my blog a few days ago that I'd share more with you about my good friend, Pastor Tara Sloan . To find out more about our friendship, read my previous post . Here's today's interview with one of the most powerful women of God walking the planet... What are your girls names and ages ? Kaitlyn (14) Kelsea (12) Haley (9) Alexandria -Lexi- (5) Isabella - Izzie - (15 mo) How did you and your husband (Pastor Craig Sloan) meet? Craig and I have known each other for 23 years! My father became Associate & Youth Pastor at Evangel A/G in Clewiston, FL in 1984. Craig’s family lived in Clewiston and attended church at Evangel. So, we became friends and remained friends throughout our teen years. When I was in college Craig became Associate at my dad’s church in Clearwater, FL. I knew in my heart that God had sent him to be my husband and to make a long story short, we were married December 28, 1991 ! How long have you been in ministry? Of course being a PK (Pastor’s...

This past weekend I was reading about Senator David Vitter and the brou ha ha concerning his sleeping with prostitutes in a brothel. It appears we have yet one more high profile person who lauds the importance of family values who is then either exposed as an adulterous, prostitute visiting, meth addicted, massaged by a homosexual, or you fill in the blank here leader. The revelations never cease to amaze me and sicken me as well. I go through this little ritual every time they happen. I review the news report clip on You Tube or AOL, I watch Larry King Live or read the paper, and I take a look at these men's wives, and hear them talk or see them stand by their side loyally at the very least. Then I take a look at the women (or men) they committed these sins with and I go, "um, okay..............." I know sin doesn't make sense. There is no good reason for it. But for the life of me I can't get a grasp on any reason, not even the slightest as to why these people w...

Last night I was laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep and my daughter, Savanna Rose came in and laid down with me and wanted to talk for a while. We lay there and talked about a zillion things but I want to share with you just two things about her because it's so funny. Recently we got her FCAT scores back and it's amazing how brilliant this child is. I mean, my boys aren't lacking in brains by any means but Savanna seems to score out of the ballpark on things at times. And she can be so witty. Not to mention I think she's the most beautiful girl in the world... Last night she's laying here talking to me about motors, and how things are powered and all kinds of stuff like she's an engineer or something. I was thinking, "okay, I've lived thirty years longer than her and I have no idea what she's talking about right now..." I had no idea she knew anything about motors. Then she says... "and Mom, for the life of me I just don't unde...